Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-06-10
Death OF WILLIAM A. WHEELER.

UEAlh UF WILLIAM a. WHEELER.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER AS A PUB
LIC SERVANT.
His Congressional Services In Behalf of
! His Country.
x-Vice-President Wheeler died at his
home in Malone, N. Y, on Saturday morn
ing, June 4, at 10 o'clock. He passed peace
fully away, without a sign of reco ognition Of
those about him.
Ex-Vice-P President William Almon Wheeler
was born on the 30th of June, 1919, in the
town of Malone, Franklin county, N Y,
which had ever since been his home He
received a common school and academic edu.
cation in his native town, and afterward
entered the University of Vermont, in the
class which graduated in 1912, He was adj
mitted to the bar in 1S45, and rose rapidly in
his profession, acquiring quite an extensive
practice. He had previously been active in
matters affecting the welfare of the COM
munity, and had served as town clerk and as
school commissioner and school inspec>
tor Of the county. His political life
began bofore the organic ton Of the Free
Soil party, and while he regarded himself as
a member of no political party His first
public Office was that of district attorney of
Franklin county, to which he was elected by
the Democratic party soon after the adoption
of the state constitution Of 1916 He held
this Office until 1859, when lie declined re-
nomination, and in that year became the
candidate of the Wing party for the State
Assembly, and was elected, being reelected
in the following year. He subsequently re-
linquished the law to become cashier in a
bank at Malone, position he retained until
1856. He was interested in the construction
of the old Northern railroad, afterward
merged into the Ogdensburg and Lake Cham
| plain road. He became trustee of the second
mortgage bonds in 1854, and, as president of
the board of trustees for eleven consecutive
years, he was virtual manager of the road
Mr. Wheeler was very active in the forma-
tion and success of the Republican party,
and was
Elected d to the State Senate
as Republican in 1858 and 1859, of which
body in the latter year he was president pro
tempore. His distinguished services in the
Senate were recognized by his party, and, in
1860, he was nominated and elected to the 81, h
Congress. At the close of the term he re-
turned to private life, and an intelregnum OF
four years followed in his public career In
April, 1867 Mr.. Wheeler was elected MEM
Der of the state constitutional convention,
and when that body assembled, he was
chosen to preside over its deliberations,
which of course removed him from taking
part in the debates on the floor. In the
autumn after the adjournment of the CON
vention he vas nominated for Congress in
the 7th New York district, and was
elected to the 41st Congress, TAX.
ing his seat March 4, 1869.
When the newly elected speaker,
Mr.. Blaine, announced the committees Mr..
Wheelers name appeared as chairman OF
the committee on the Pacific railroad He
was also member of the committees on
commerce, appropriations and southern af>
fairs. He held the same positions in the en-.
suing congress, to which he was elected with
little opposition in the fall of 1870. He was
re- elected TO the 43d and 44th congresses,
thus having eight years of continuous service
from March L. 1869 to March 3, 1877. In the
political complications which arose in Lou
isiana during the 43d congress he took con-
spicuous part, being chairman of the special
committee of the house on southern affairs,
and in 1875 he visited New Orleans and pre-
pared an adjustment for the difficulties oil
the state which became known as the
"WhceIer Compromise"
During his congressional career Mr.. Wheeler
made few speeches, aud the influence he ex
erted was almost exclusively in the COM
mittees with which he was come ected. His
votes were mostly party votes but many Of
his measures were ncn>partisan, and it was
due to this fact that he was able on more
than one occasion to carry Iill through a
house in which his party was in the minority.
Added to this he had great personal in.
fluence, and enjoyed to the greatest degree
the confidence and esteem of his fellow-mem,
bers, and whenever be arose to speak he
always commanded the most respectfuI
attention. AT the national Republican con.
vention in Cincinnati, o., June g. 1876. after
the nomination of Mr.. Hayes, Mr.. Wheeler
was nominated for the vice pres dency, and
in letter on the 2lst of July he accepted the
nomination.
His election to that office is matter OF
history. The commencement Of 1877 found
the country in state of excitement over the
national election, and, during that time
when party spirit ran higher than it ever did
before in the United States not the SLIGHTEST
breath OF suspicion was ever connected will
Mr.. Wheelers name. He faithfully dis,
charged the duties Of the office to
the end Of bis term in March 1881
Since that time the only public Office
he has held was in 1882, when Pres dent Ar
thur appointed him a member of the tariff
commission, MIR. Wheeler later withdrew
from any active participation in politics OF
pul lie a fairs, though his interest in them
remained unabated and sought the comforts
Of the ass ociation of his friends and a quiet
life. He seemed to entirel disappear from
the public view, his name very rarely
appearing in the papers in late